Building a Network of Support for New Teachers

In response to the high attrition rate of new teachers, more and more induction programs are being implemented across the country. Current financial constraints, coupled with no systematic way to coordinate resources across schools and state organizations, present a challenge to many small or poorly funded schools and districts. In this article, we provide background information on the context of induction and mentoring in the United States, followed by a description of a statewide induction project that seeks to create a collaborative network of support across institutions in the absence of any state-funded program. An analysis of the issues and promises involved in such collaboration is provided that offers the field an important conceptual lens for thinking about induction and mentoring processes in new ways.